BALTIMORE, MD. – A Hanover man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison followed by lifetime supervised release on Wednesday for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, federal prosecutors announced.

Michael Sam Teekaye, Jr., 22, pleaded guilty in January 2026 after unknowingly revealing a plot to travel abroad and fight for the designated foreign terrorist organization to an undercover law enforcement officer, prosecutors said. 

What we know:

Court documents reveal that between March and October 2024, Teekaye coordinated travel arrangements with a Somali ISIS fighter. His itinerary detailed a flight departing from Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) to Turkey, with subsequent travel through Ethiopia to cross into Somalia.

FBI agents arrested Teekaye at BWI on October 14, 2024, after he cleared airport security, according to previous FOX 5 D.C. reporting. 

READ MORE: Maryland man arrested for allegedly attempting to join ISIS

Leading up to his arrest, court documents say that Teekaye prepared for his departure by practicing at a Maryland shooting range and attempting to purchase an assault rifle, which was blocked due to an existing state probation status.

Days before his arrest, Teekaye sent the undercover officer a photograph of himself wearing a mask and wielding a large machete, declaring a choice of “victory or martyrdom.”

Following his arrest, prosecutors say Teekaye made multiple unprovoked statements to law enforcement vowing to resume his violent efforts upon his eventual release from custody and threatening the lives of prison guards. 

Dig deeper:

Federal authorities noted that Teekaye established a secondary plan to execute domestic terrorist attacks targeting Jewish individuals and institutions supporting Israel within Maryland if his international travel failed. A digital forensic search of his phone uncovered specific search histories focused on Jewish organizations and community members in Howard County, alongside queries regarding home break-ins and escaping murder charges.

A local rabbi impacted by the surveillance spoke during the sentencing hearing regarding the threat’s toll on the community.

Updated: Wednesday, July 8, 2026

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Moore today announced the awardees for the Maryland Lighthouse Industries Upskilling and Reskilling Program, a $1.23M investment that will help Marylanders build skills for careers in high-growth industries increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. The awards, which will support nearly 600 individuals, will go to organizations across Maryland that are expanding workforce training opportunities in the state’s critical lighthouse industries, including life sciences, technology, aerospace, defense, and manufacturing.

“We are setting up Maryland to lead the nation in this rapidly changing economy, and leaving no one behind in the process,” said Gov. Moore. “By investing in lighthouse industries we are empowering and strengthening our workforce to build the necessary skills for jobs of the future shaped by emerging technologies. This program will ensure that pathways to work, wages, and wealth continue to grow across our state.”

Governor Wes Moore announced the Maryland Lighthouse Industries Upskilling and Reskilling Program earlier this year. Funded through the Talent Innovation Fund, this program is part of a $4 million investment that gives Marylanders experience in rapidly-growing sectors increasingly shaped by emerging technologies. This investment funds hands-on learning for workers, supports the state’s long‑term economic competitiveness, expands the talent pipeline for Maryland employers, and positions the state as a destination for companies looking to grow and innovate.

“Maryland is uniquely poised to lead the AI economy because we have a highly-skilled workforce and innovative companies,” said Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu. “Helping more workers to develop leading-edge technology skills will prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow and help shape the future of these industries right here in Maryland.” 

Through industry-driven partnerships, this program will help Maryland workers gain in-demand technical and transferable skills and ensure Maryland employers have the talent they need to remain competitive in a rapidly changing global economy.

Awardees and focus areas include:

• BioBuzz Networks, Inc.: Life Sciences (Statewide)
• Davis Unlimited Information Technologies, Inc.: Cybersecurity (Capital Region, Central Maryland)
• HUBZone Council, Inc.: Quantum/AI (Capital Region, Central Maryland, Western Maryland)
• Maryland MEP, Inc.: Manufacturing (Statewide) 
• Technology Advancement Center, Inc.: Cybersecurity (Statewide)
• Technology Growth Initiative Inc. dba Fearless Institute: Cybersecurity (Statewide)
• University of Maryland, College Park: Aerospace and Defense (Southern Maryland)

“Maryland MEP is excited and honored to be a part of the lighthouse upskilling program,” said Mike Kelleher, CEO of Maryland MEP, one of the awardees. “This funding will enable manufacturers and manufacturing workers throughout Maryland to receive training in the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and the application of these skills in the manufacturing environment to compete at the global level.” 

The Maryland Department of Labor developed this program in consultation with the Governor’s Workforce Development Board—the governor’s chief policy-making body for workforce development. 

For more information, visit the Maryland Lighthouse Industries Upskilling and Reskilling Program webpage.

The Moore-Miller administration continues to directly invest in workforce development to prepare for and lead in the new AI economy, reinforcing the administration’s dedication to Maryland’s workforce. In February, Governor Moore announced the Lighthouse Industries and AI Internship program to expand training and experiential learning opportunities in life sciences, technology, aerospace and defense, and manufacturing for college seniors and recent graduates. 

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